Blade-sharpening tool

ABSTRACT

A blade-sharpening tool equipped with a suction-type anchorage on its base and having a rotary blade supporter and associated blade sharpener supports mounted on the inclined face of the tool body. The support for the sharpening elements is rotatable to any of several operating positions depending upon the type of blade to be sharpened.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,612,323 12/1926 Staats-Oels........,.t........

[72] lnventor Raymond S.W.Lindsay 4 Sulkara Court, Toronto 16, Ontario, Canada 2,565,196 8/1951 B0squet...... 2,834,230 5/1958 Tenebergwm [21] Appl. No 799,747 [22] Filed Feb. 17, 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 197] Primary Examiner Bernard Stickney Attorney-Sellers and Brace [54] BLADE-SHARPENING TOOL ABSTRACT: A blade-sharpening tool equipped with a suction-type anchorage on its base and having a rotary blade supporter and associated blade sharpener supports mounted on the inclined face of the tool body. The support for the sharpening elements is rotatable to any of several operating positions depending upon the type of blade to be sharpened.

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BLADE-SHARPFNING TOOL This invention relates to blade-sharpening tools and more particularly to an improved versatile tool having a plurality of different sharpening elements each operatively associated with a differently designed blade-supporting notch.

The invention tool has a base equipped with a suction diaphragm for locking it immovably to a counter or other supporting surface. Rotatably supported on the main body is a support member for sharpening elements for each of a series of notches selectively movable into operating position and each equipped to properly support a different type of blade while being sharpened. The sharp-edged sharpening elements are releasably mounted against the rear of the support therefor. All blade-sharpening elements not in use are concealed by a shroud disposed to leave only the sharpeners in use exposed and positioned conveniently for effective use while sharpening a particular type of blade. When one portion of the sharpening element becomes dull or ineffective, it is easily shifted to bring a different portion of its sharpening edge into operative position. The vacuum-clamping device permits the tool to be anchored in any desired position for most con venient use and then released for removal to storage until again needed.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved, versatile, rugged universal blade sharpener tool.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compact blade-sharpening tool adapted to be anchored releasably to any flat supporting surface and featuring a rotary support for sets of blade-sharpening elements quickly rotatable to a position for sharpening one ofa wide range of blades.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive universal blade-sharpening tool for use in kitchens and shops and equipped with means for anchoring the same to a workbench or a kitchen counter.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary cross-sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 on FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 on FIG. 4.

Referring initially more particularly to FIGS. I and 2, there is shown a countersupported blade-sharpening tool, designated generally 10, having a hollow main body II pro vided across its bottom with a high-strength elastic diaphragm 12. This diaphragm has an upturned flexible lip 13 snugly embracing the lower edge of the main body. Molded within the central portion of diaphragm I2 is a metal plaque 14 having upstanding tabs 15 slotted at I6 to receive a crank I7 formed in a shaft 18 having its opposite endsjournaled in the sidewalls of the main body. One end of this shaft is bent to provide an operating handle 20 rotatable through an arc of about 180. When in its forward position, as illustrated in FIGS. I and 2, crank I7 extends downwardly and diaphragm 12 is in its normal relaxed position. However, when handle 20 is rotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 2, crank 17 elevates the central portion of the diaphragm and creates a high suction between its underside and the supporting table top surface. Since the handle is capable of rotating through slightly more than 180, the crank is moved past its vertical center point wherein it is then effective to lock the diaphragm elevated.

The upper flattened portion 23 of the main body slopes downwardly and forwardly and has an opening 24 receiving the shank 25 ofa disclike blade support 26. The outer face of this support is provided with radial ribs 27 providing thumbpieces for convenience in rotating blade support 26 from one position to another. Support 26 is held in assembled position by a Belleville spring 28 and a split ring keeper 29 seated in a groove 30 encircling shank 25. The Belleville spring serves multiple functions as will be described presently. Surrounding the lower rim portion of support 26 is an arcuate shroud 32 provided with integral posts 33 having a snug frictional fit in wells 34 cast in the forward face of the main body. Support 26 includes a backup disc 36 formed with low'height annular rims 37 and 38 (FIG. 2) about its periphery. Rim 37 has a height corresponding to the thickness of the blade sharpening elements 39, 40, 41, and 427 These elements are best shown in FIG. 4, elements 39 and 40 being identical and rectangular and provided with a pair of bores seating about circular bosses 44 integral with the forward face of backup disc 36. Sharpening elements 41 and 42 are likewise identical and have arcuate edges 45 and have a frictional fit within recesses provided by ribs 46 upstanding from the face of disc 36. Similar ribs 46 cooperate with bosses 44 in holding elements 39 and 40 firmly seated against the rear face of support 26'.

Sharpening elements 39, 40, M, and 42 are cast from sintered tungsten carbide or similar extremely hard material and have very sharp corners along all edges. These edges are effec tive to shave a very thin layer from the edges ofa cutting blade as the face of the edge is drawn thereacross under pressure. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the rounded edges 45 of elements 41 and 42 cooperate to sharpen the opposite faces of a hollow ground blade.

The rim portions of both support 26 and backup disc 36 are formed with notches 50, 51,52, and 5.3 (FIG. 3) extending inwardly and expbsing a portion of the respective associated sharpening elements in the manner best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The sidewalls of these notches are so shaped and sloped relative to the cutting edges of the sharpening elements as to support the blade in a proper position while being sharpened.

The forward face of the main body underlying support 26 is provided ivith three spherical surfaced protrusions or bosses 56 (FIGS; 2, 4, and 6), one of which is normally seated in a groove 57; extending crosswise of a pair of camming surfaces 58, 59 formed on the underside of backup disc 36 (FIG. 6). The latter are so positioned relative to bosses 56 as to hold a selected sharpening element in alignment with a notch 60 formed across the rear top edge of main body 11 (FIG. 2). This is the proper sharpening position of the blade support. As shown in FIG. 4, notches 50 and 51 are in alignment with notch 60, all other notches being then concealed within shroud 32.

In operation, tool 10 is clamped to a table top or counter in the manner described above simply by holding the tool firmly against a flat surface while rotating handle 20 toward the rear of member 26 and elevating diaphragm I2 away from the counter to provide a high vacuum beneath the diaphragm. The user then rotates support 26 to bring the desired one of the cutting elements into alignment with notch 60. A blade to be sharpened is inserted in the notch and held flush with the iriclined sidewall of the notch with one face of the cutting edge bearing against the edge of the sharpening element. As the blade is drawn crosswise of this sharpening edge, a thin sliver of material is removed. The other edge of the blade is sharpened in the same manner. During this operation, Belleville spring 28 holds blade support 26 and backup disc 36 firmly pressed against one another and against the forward inclined face of the tool body.

Rotation of support 26 to bring a different notch and sharpening element into position is accomplished simply by grasping the finger grips 27 and rotating the support or dial 26 in either direction, spring 28 at the inner end of shank 25 giving sufficiently to permit a boss 56 to ride out of groove 57. The next boss then rides up on the appropriate one of camming surfaces 58, 59 until that boss seats in groove 57. After a sharpening operation has been completed, the too! is quickly released from anchorage by reversing handle to its forward position whereupon the tool is fully released for transfer to a place of storage.

While the particular blade-sharpening tool herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

iclaim:

l. A blade-sharpening tool having a main body with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper surface, a blade support rotatably mounted in an inclined position on said upper surface and having a plurality of blade-supporting notches distributed about the periphery thereof, a plurality of blade-sharpening elements supported against the underside of said blade support and having an exposed edge positioned in respective ones of said notches along the rim portion of said blade support, and means releasably detaining said blade support selectively in position for the use of a selected one of said bladesharpening elements.

2. A tool as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said blade support includes generally radially disposed bladereceiving notches with the sides thereof shaped and disposed to aid in supporting a blade in a suitable position for sharpening as the blade is held generally horizontally and drawn lengthwise of its cutting edge across the edge of a blade-sharpening element projecting into an associated one of said notches.

3. A tool as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said main body has a notch therein crosswise of the upper rim of said inclined upper surface positioned to be aligned with a notch of said rotary blade support when the same is retained in any selected sharpening position.

4. A tool as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said rotary blade support is provided with finger-engaging means on its exposed exterior face for manual use in rotating said blade holder from one sharpening position to another.

5. A tool as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said main body includes a supporting base provided with suction diaphragm means and an operating lever movable between locked and unlocked position in the first of which said diaphragm means is held in an elevated suction-creating position and in the second of which said diaphragm means is relaxed.

6. A tool as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said main body is an inverted cup-shaped member supported on and closed by said suction diaphragm means, said diaphragm means providing a resilient surface gripping support for said tool irrespective of the position of said operating lever.

7. A tool as defined in claim 6 characterized in the provision of a shroud embracing a major peripheral portion of said rotary blade support and concealing those blade sharpening elements not intended for use in sharpening a particular type of blade.

8. A tool as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said rotary blade support has a circular disclike main body and a cylindrical shank projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the central rear side thereof.

9. A tool as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of spring detent means interposed between said main body and said rotary blade support for supporting said blade support selectively in any one of a plurality of blade-sharpening positions.

10. A tool holder as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said blade support includes a plurality of hardened sharpedged blade-sharpening cutter elements, and means for holding said cutter elements detachably in place and permitting each thereof to be mounted with any one of a plurality of different sharp edges in sharpening position. 

1. A blade-sharpening tool having a main body with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper surface, a blade support rotatably mounted in an inclined position on said upper surface and having a plurality of blade-supporting notches distributed about the periphery thereof, a plurality of blade-sharpening elements supported against the underside of said blade support and having an exposed edge positioned in respective ones of said notches along the rim portion of said blade support, and means releasably detaining said blade support selectively in position for the use of a selected one of said blade-sharpening elements.
 2. A tool as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said blade support includes generally radially disposed blade-receiving notches with the sides thereof shaped and disposed to aid in supporting a blade in a suitable position for sharpening as the blade is held generally horizontally and drawn lengthwise of its cutting edge across the edge of a blade-sharpening element projecting into an associated one of said notches.
 3. A tool as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said main body has a notch therein crosswise of the upper rim of said inclined upper surface positioned to be aligned with a notch of said rotary blade support when the same is retained in any selected sharpening position.
 4. A tool as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said rotary blade support is provided with finger-engaging means on its exposed exterior face for manual use in rotating said blade holder from one sharpening position to another.
 5. A tool as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said main body includes a supporting base provided with suction diaphragm means and an operating lever movable between locked and unlocked position in the first of which said diaphragm means is held in an elevated suction-creating position and in the second of which said diaphragm means is relaxed.
 6. A tool as defined in claim 4 characterized in that said main body is an inverted cup-shaped member supported on and closed by said suction diaphragm means, said diaphragm means providing a resilient surface gripping support for said tool irrespective of the position of said operating lever.
 7. A tool as defined in claim 6 characterized in the provision of a shroud embracIng a major peripheral portion of said rotary blade support and concealing those blade sharpening elements not intended for use in sharpening a particular type of blade.
 8. A tool as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said rotary blade support has a circular disclike main body and a cylindrical shank projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the central rear side thereof.
 9. A tool as defined in claim 8 characterized in the provision of spring detent means interposed between said main body and said rotary blade support for supporting said blade support selectively in any one of a plurality of blade-sharpening positions.
 10. A tool holder as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said blade support includes a plurality of hardened sharp-edged blade-sharpening cutter elements, and means for holding said cutter elements detachably in place and permitting each thereof to be mounted with any one of a plurality of different sharp edges in sharpening position. 